The Jewish Mastermind Who Defeated Napoleon: The Remarkable Life of Chaim Farchi

Napoleon's Dream Meets a Jewish Wall

In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte stood before the city of Acre, poised to wrest it from Ottoman control. Before launching his assault, he made a bold declaration: "If I succeed in conquering the Land of Israel, I will settle it with Jews!" What led him to say this? And did he mean it?

Napoleon had already taken Jaffa and Haifa with ease. His advanced military force far outmatched the Ottoman garrisons. But in Acre, he encountered something unexpected: the strategic mind of Chaim Farchi.

The Man Who Outsmarted an Empire

At the time, the region was ruled by Ahmad al-Jazzar, a notoriously cruel governor known as “al-Jazzar” (“the Butcher”). His top advisor was Chaim Farchi, a brilliant Jewish banker and statesman whose father, Shaul Farchi, had served as treasurer of the Ottoman authorities in Syria.

Farchi’s clever tactics disrupted Napoleon’s every move. He orchestrated elaborate defenses that misled French forces and exhausted their resources. In one instance, the French army breached a key section of the city’s wall, only to find another wall hidden behind it, built by Farchi. When they entered, they walked into a deadly ambush. Demoralized and depleted, Napoleon’s army retreated, marking the beginning of his military downfall.

Loyalty, Leadership, and a Tragic End

Farchi didn’t stop at military strategy. He repopulated the Galilee with Jewish families, brought Rabbi Chaim Abulafia to Tiberias to strengthen Jewish life, and cracked down on local bandits. Thanks to his efforts, the Galilee became a thriving and safe region. He even secured tax breaks for the Jewish communities of Tiberias and Safed.

But serving under al-Jazzar came at a painful price. In a fit of rage, the brutal governor gouged out one of Farchi’s eyes, cut off part of his nose, and sliced one of his ears, yet still forced him to continue as his advisor.

After al-Jazzar’s death, Farchi remained in power, advising his successor, Sulayman Pasha. He helped strengthen Sulayman’s rule, forged key alliances with northern Druze tribes, and used diplomatic bribes, a common practice at the time, to gain Ottoman support. He revitalized the economy and found ways to bypass a French naval embargo that had blocked Turkish ships from many European ports.

When Sulayman Pasha died, Farchi worked to install his deputy, Abdullah, as the new ruler. But Ottoman officials, jealous of Farchi’s influence, turned Abdullah against him. They accused Farchi of seeking power for himself and undermining Islam. Though Farchi could have fled to Istanbul and secured protection, he feared Abdullah would take revenge on the Jewish communities of the Galilee. So he stayed.

One night, the feared “Mute Brigade,” Ottoman executioners whose tongues had been cut out to prevent them from ever speaking, entered his home. They murdered Chaim Farchi and looted his estate. Rabbi Yehosef Schwartz later described the scene: “The wicked Pasha ordered his men to ransack the house and carry off its treasures. They threw the body of the righteous man into the sea. His righteous wife and household fled to Damascus, where she died en route and was buried in Safed.”

A Hero Remembered

The Jewish world mourned deeply. To many, Chaim Farchi was a nasi b’Yisrael, a true leader of the Jewish people, who gave everything for their sake. His home in Acre still stands, locked and shuttered. Perhaps one day, it will open as a museum to honor his life and legacy.

Farchi’s story is one of brilliance, courage, and unwavering loyalty. In the face of tyranny and war, he stood firm, and changed the course of history.